A Vallejo, California, homeowner says Pacific Gas and Electric Co. removed a hazardous backyard tree near power lines in June but left behind a huge pile of logs she cannot move.
A Vallejo resident identified only as Catherine says the debris has become a safety concern of its own and that she is considering legal action, according to KNTV.
Here's what to know
The tree had become overgrown and was leaning toward nearby power lines, so utility crews removed it in June.
The work ended with a heavy pile of cut logs still sitting in her backyard.
Catherine did not oppose taking the tree down.
"The tree was overgrown and close to the lines so it was going sideways so it was better to remove it," Catherine told KNTV.
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Under the utility's tree-work policy, branches smaller than 4 inches are generally chipped or taken away, while larger pieces of wood are usually left on the property for residents to handle.
That left Catherine with debris she cannot clear or manage herself.
"Well I can not walk … [it] blocks my way around the property, and it's close to my house … this is flammable material," she explained.
More background
A utility inspector informed Catherine verbally that someone would come back to either remove the logs or cut them into smaller pieces so she could dispose of them herself.
Catherine feels that leaving the wood for her to manage is unacceptable.
"Those are absolutely unspeakable," she said. "That it's left to myself, an elderly lady to handle, there's no way I can handle it."
In her view, the pile creates two problems at once: it interferes with access around the yard and sits near the house as a possible fire hazard.
She also accused the company of intentionally damaging her property.
"This is vandalism and my property it's intentional … elderly abuse … infliction of emotional distress," she told the station.
What's being done?
The utility said it is reviewing what happened.
"We're taking this seriously and are now reviewing our records to get a better understanding of what work we were doing at this customer's address. We expect to have those details tomorrow," the utility said in a statement.
The question now is whether the crew acted in line with the utility's posted tree-work policy, or whether a company representative gave Catherine unreliable guidance before or after the work.
Catherine said she wants the logs removed or cut into manageable sections so she can move around the property and handle the remaining disposal herself.
She said the promise of a return visit was verbal, not written, leaving her with little documentation as she considers legal action if the matter is not resolved.
Catherine said the work removed one danger but left another behind.
"That it's left to myself, an elderly lady to handle, there's no way I can handle it."
Where can I learn more?
Questions about who handles tree debris also come up in California's broader wildfire prevention work. Our related coverage looks at utility vegetation management and concerns about property damage.
• In California, wildfire prevention planning failures left utilities spending heavily for limited results.
• A homeowner said electric company contractors threatened a decades-old tree and possible property damage.
• A homeowner said an aggressive neighbor began destroying trees without consent and sparked legal concerns.
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